Shema Kolainu Legislative Breakfast 2016

Wednesday, August 10, 2016By Sydney Chang

Special guests: Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Dr. Alan Kadish, President and CEO of the Touro College and University System

Shema
Kolainu, a school serving the needs of autistic children and their families
recently held its Annual Legislative Breakfast, featuring an array of local
elected officials and community leaders from across the city who all voiced
their commitments to the special needs community.

Dr. Joshua
Weinstein, founder of Shema Kolainu, opened the event by expressing his deep
gratitude to the dedicated parents, Shema Kolainu staff, elected officials, and
management staff that have grown and developed the school into what is it
today, proudly declaring that since “day one at Shema Kolainu, we started with
miracles, and the miracles have never ceased”.

Also among
those in attendance were NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller
Scott Stringer, State Senator Felder, Councilmembers Andrew Cohen and David
Greenfield. The program commenced with Shema Kolainu parent who described the
staff at the Shema Kolainu school “persistent” and “incredibly brave”. Dr.
Weinstein lauded the extraordinary efforts of Council member Cohen who chairs
the NYC Council Committee on Mental Health for ensuring that the budget
allocates funding for the autism initiative—a sentiment shared by Councilman
Greenfield who announced his and Cohen’s triumph in increasing funding for
autism by $2 million as part of NYC after school programs.

Dr. Alan
Kadish, President and CEO of the Touro College and University System was
awarded the Excellence in Education Leadership Award and the artwork of Shema
Kolainu students. As one of the leading higher education institutions, Touro
College boasts of 18,000 students enrolled in 32 schools over 4 countries who
go on to careers in the healthcare world. Touro College’s Autism Center and Dr.
Kadish’s contributions to educating healthcare professionals to serve the needs
of those with autism were also recognized.

Dr. Kadish
eloquently captured the essence of the Breakfast in shifting the focus away
from himself towards honoring children with autism and those at Shema Kolainu
who dedicate their lives to serving them. Public Advocate Tish James emphasized
the symbolism of the art presented to Dr. Kadish as it is “the best...and most
effective way [the students] can communicate...this is artwork of their world
that we should enjoy and share with others”.

Shema
Kolainu also awarded Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor of Health and Human
Services, the City Leadership Award. Dr. Weinstein in presenting her with a painting
by the children of Shema Kolainu, said to her, “I’m presenting you this humble award
to a humble person.” She captured the importance of taking care of our youth
and those most vulnerable by powerfully stated, “When our children and
neighborhoods are healthy, our communities are healthy, and our city thrives”.

Comptroller Stringer
commended the hard work of the honorees and others, delivering a heartfelt
message that as “parents and grandparents and guardians...when we look at our
children, we think they can do anything they want even if they don’t start the
race of life in the same way as other kids. We always believe that they can
aspire to be anything they want...and Shema Kolainu levels the playing field
for all of our children”. He truly captured the heart of the school’s mission,
and the life-changing ways in which our children all benefit from the care and
compassion they deserve.

The genuine
and candid atmosphere of this year’s event continues to exemplify the obstacles
overcome and progress made when there is collaboration among various
communities. The fight to raise awareness of autism and provide quality
education to children with autism is greatly furthered by Shema Kolainu and all
of the dedicated people who come together each year at these Breakfasts.

The Annual Shema Kolainu Legislative Breakfast is hosted annually to educate legislators about the urgency of Autism care and research, raise support and awareness and share ideas about working toward combating Autism through effective public policy and legislation. Communal, civic and religious leaders, philanthropists, and elected officials will be participating to pay tribute to several outstanding public officials for their role in furthering the mission of Shema Kolainu.

Special recognition was given to Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito who was represented by Jennie Berger for funding a total of $690,000 for the city-wide Autism Initiative that will benefit numerous programs an effort championed by Councilman Mark Weprin who sponsors the autism initiative and NYS Assemblymember David Weprin who pioneered the program.

On Tuesday July 24, 2012 Shema Kolainu-Hear Our Voices, a school and center for Children with Autism hosted their 10th Annual Legislative Breakfast at the Renaissance Ballroom in Brooklyn, New York. This year's breakfast honored members of both the City Council and State Legislature in recognition of their efforts to help children with autism.